Frequently asked questions when visiting an eye specialist

Eye examinations are important even if your eyes are in good health. Everyone, irrespective of their age, should undergo an eye examination at least once a year. When consulting an eye doctor, you should ask pertinent eye health questions so that you are appraised about the condition of your eyes.

In this blog, we’ll have a look at some of the common questions that the patients ask us about eyes:

Is excessive usage of digital devices affecting my eyes?

The blue light emitted from digital devices such as tablets, laptops, and mobile phones can cause headache and eye strains. Blurred vision, dry eyes, shoulder pain, and neck pain are some of the symptoms of digital eye strain.

You should make use of spectacles that filter the blue light and do not let it affect your eyes. Blink at regular intervals and take frequent breaks when using digital devices. It is recommended to limit the usage of digital devices to improve the health of your eyes.

How should I take care of my eyesight?

We live in a digital-first world where the mobile phone has become our important companion. However, too much screen time can cause fatigue in your eyes. It is important to keep the eyes healthy.

Consuming leafy and green vegetables like kale, spinach, and collard greens can improve your eye health. You can perform simple eye exercises to strengthen the muscles of your eyes. Yoga exercises, when performed regularly, result in boosting your vision.

What comprises a basic eye exam, and how long does it take?

This is one of the most important questions to ask during an eye exam. A simple eye exam lasts around 15-20 minutes and involves two simple processes. The first process involves reading the vision (Snellen) chart for distance amd a near vision chart if you are over forty years of age. At the end of this test, you would come to know whether you have short-sightedness or far-sightedness.

The second process involves the refraction test, where a quick eye inspection is conducted and your eye power is determined. You may then require a dilated examination for detailed check up.

Can I use eye drops to address dry eye problems?

Heaviness in eyes, itchy eyes, constant burning sensation, and blurred vision are some of the common symptoms of dry eyes. Dry eyes is a disorder that is prominent with the older generation, however with increasing screen time it is now also being seen in younger population

When discussing dry eyes, disclose details about any underlying health conditions (e.g. diabetes, thyroid,  blood pressure, etc.) since those conditions can impact your eye health.

What type of contact lenses should I wear?

You should go through a comprehensive eye exam before opting for any corrective measures for your eyes. There are a lot of options as far as contact lenses are concerned. Single-use disposable contacts are prefered by people who do not want to spend efforts on maintaining the lenses.

In case you have symptoms of near-sightedness, you can hugely benefit from Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) lenses that will reshape the cornea when you sleep. Always keep your eyes protected by wearing sunglasses whenever you step out wearing contacts.

Do severe health conditions like Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, etc., affect eye health?

It is one of the common questions about eyes that is normally asked by people who have health issues. High blood pressure affects the vision, and you should consult an eye-doctor on an urgent basis to retain the health of your eyes.

Diabetes is another health condition that can impact eye health in a big way. Though diabetes does not have any visible symptoms, it can lead to severe consequences like diabetic retinopathy and vision loss.

Conclusion

In this blog, we explored some of the questions to ask an eye doctor that would ease your tension and keep you prepared to deal with all kinds of eye problems. It is important to choose eye care specialists like Centre for Sight with state-of-the-art facilities to address eye problems like LASIK, Cataract, eye cancer, and more.

Expert eye doctors at the Centre for Sight will help you resolve common questions about eyes so that your eyes remain healthy for years to come!

Article: Frequently asked questions when visiting an eye specialist
Author: CFS Editorial Team  |  Feb 25, 2021 | UPDATED 12:40 IST

*The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of Centre for Sight.